Chat
|
Daily Search
|
My GenForum
|
Community Standards
|
Terms of Service
|
|
|
I have seen very little in the way of records on the web concerning the Francis Floyd line from Rowan Co and Davidson Co, NC. So I am sharing what I have found in hopes that others will have more they can add and we can all use these records to prove more connections. I will start with the records for Francis Floyd and add the records for his son John Floyd later.
Francis Floyd was in Rowan Co by 1784 when he appeared on a tax list. Although the tax record indicates he held 100 acres, I have not found a land record this early. His daughter Elizabeth Floyd Briggs' 1850 census states she was 74 and born in VA. So, if her age was accurate, this would put Francis's arrival in NC some time between 1776 and 1784.
Will of Francis Floyd from Rowan Co WB G p 447, 448 (If anyone has a copy of the original at Archives, please let me know if you notice any differences.)
Novem Session 1816
State of N Carolina Rowan County April 30 day 1816
In the name of God Amen - I Francis Floyd being of sound and perfect memory blessed be God do publish this my last will & testatment in manner following Vizt.
1st I give to Jonathan Eston (sic) forty dollars and
2nd I give to John Floyd my son 100 Acres land joining Samuel Cock (sic) & John Brigs
3d I give to William Briggs & William Thompson one Hundred and fifty Acres joining James and John Briggs -
4t I give to Nancy my Daughter Thirty Dollars
5t I give to my Son in law Andrew Knup twenty dollars
I hereby ordain and make this my worthy friend William Bean Executor of this my last will and testament in Witness whereof I the said Francis Floyd have to this my last will and testament set my hand and seal this day and year above written signed sealed published & declared by the said Floyd testator as his last will and Testament Francis Floyd do hereunto set my han and seal this day and year above written
I give to my wife Susanna all the Stock Household furniture and one hundred & fifty Acres land where I live now.
his
Francis X Floyd (seal)
mark
Test
his
Philip X Carnn
mark
John Moss
Rowan Co Court of Pleas and Quarter Sessions 1815-1816 p 186
Saturday 23rd Novr 1816
The last Will and Testament of Francis Floyd, proven in Open Court by the Oath of Phillip Carn and the Executor William Bean qualified & obtained letters.
Jonathan Eston was actually Jonathan Elston and Samuel Cock was actually Samuel Peacock. Andrew Knup appeared on all other records as Frederick Knup.
Notice that there is no mention of Whitlock Bean in the will and one daughter, Nancy, appears to be unmarried. Francis made no stipulation that the land left to Susanna was to be hers only during her natural life or widowhood and then would revert back to one or more of his children, so Susanna was free to do as she liked with her 150 acres.
Francis Floyd was in possession of more land than he mentioned in his will as proven by later land records below.
Tax records:
1784 Capt. Frederick Smith Frances Flayed 100 acres
1796 Capt. Smith's Company Frances Floyd 470 acres, 1 WP
1815 Capt Bean's Company Francis Floyd 150
Francis Floyd certainly held far more than just the 150 acres he listed for taxes in 1815.
Census records:
1790 census Rowan Co
Name: Francis Floyd
County: Rowan
State: North Carolina
Number of Free White Males Under 16: 1
Number of Free White Males 16 and Over: 1 Francis b before 1774
Number of Free White Females: 6
The next 3 households were James Gallimore, John Gallimore, and William Gallimore. John Floyd was listed 6 households above Francis Floyd with William Elston, father of Jonathan Elston, just above John.
1800 Rowan Co
Name: Francis Floyd
Township: Salisbury
County: Rowan
State: North Carolina
Free White Males 45 and Over : 1 Francis b by 1755
Free White Females 10 to 15 : 1
Free White Females 16 to 25 : 2
Free White Females 45 and Over : 1
Son John Floyd is listed directly under Francis Floyd. William Elston, father of Jonathan Elston is listed 10 households above Francis Floyd.
1810 Rowan Co
Name: Francis Floyed
Township: Carolina
County: Rowan
State: North Carolina
Free White Males Under 10: 1
Free White Males 10 to 15: 1
Free White Males 45 and Over: 1 Francis b by 1765
Free White Females 16 to 25: 1
Free White Females 45 and Over: 1
Francis must have been older than the 1810 census indicates. We know his son John was married by 1790. Most likely Francis was born in the 1750's. The female 16-25 could be Nancy who was still unmarried when Francis wrote his will. However Mimeth Floyd didn't marry until 1811, so this female could also be her. The younger males are unexplained, possibly two of John's sons since John's wife seems to have died just before the 1800 census. Francis's near neighbors at this time were George Smith, Benjamin Owen, Nancy Owen, and Mary Tomson. On the next page are numerous Cross families, William Holloway, and William Been, the extr.
Rowan Co marriage records
Jonathan Elston and Mary Floyd, 26 March 1800, Ruben Homes bondsman
Frederick Knup and Margaret Floyd, 17 June 1801, Francis Floyds bondsman
William Thompson and Mimeth Floyd, 9 March 1811, Abraham Owen bondsman, Geo. Dunn witness
Abraham Owen, the bondsman for Mimeth Floyd's marriage, was a son of Francis Floyd's neighbor Benjamin Owen and wife Christina Smith.
I found no marriage record for William Briggs and Elizabeth Floyd, but their marriage can be proven with deeds and census records. There is no marriage record for Nancy Floyd or Ann Floyd or for Whitlock Bean, but later deeds prove that Whitlock Bean married a daughter of Francis Floyd, almost certainly Nancy.
Either Mimeth Floyd had died by 1822 or she was also known as Eve. Davidson Co DB 1 p 98 is a deed from William Thompson and wife Eve to Joshua Lee.
Land records:
Rowan Co Land Entry No. 3264 Francis Floyd enters 100 acres of land in Rowan County on the dreans of Four Mile Branch joining whereon he now lives and including the improvement whereon John Floyd now lives & for quantity
June 27, 1791
"Joining whereon he now lives" implies that Francis already held a tract of land. The 1784 tax record indicates he held 100 acres at that time. But this is the earliest record for land that I've been able to find.
This 1791 land entry matches grant no. 235 dated 7 July 1794. This is probably the 100 acres that Francis Floyd left to son John Floyd. According to this record, Francis Floyd was living on land that adjoined this tract in 1791, but when he wrote his will in 1816, he was living on a tract that lay on both sides of Abbotts Creek. He left that tract to Susannah who later sold part of it to Leonard Smith.
NC Archives
File No. 3130 Francis Floyd 1793, 1794
Call No. S108.1025 location 0181-0185 MARS ID: 12.14.107.3151
warrants and plats
Francis Floyd - on the waters of Flat Swamp - 150 acres Grant no. 2310 issued July 7, 1794
Entry no. 58 Entered Feb 7, 1793 Book 82, p 375
Rowan Co DB 13 p 365 6 November 1793 William Moore of Rowan to Francis Floyd of Rowan. sum of 5 pounds. land lying the the county aforesd on the waters of four mile branch begining at a post oak John Sheppards corner on James Briggs line then west at 15 chs Brigg's corner contd 40 chs in all to a black oak then north 25 chs to a stake then east 40 chs to a stake on John Sheppards line then south along the same to the beginning containing 100 acres of land granted by the state to the said William Moore containing 922 acres as appears of record...
Signed W Moore (seal)
Witness Hu Horah, Trems? Z? S Furman?
Rowan DB 14 p 630, 631 7 July 1794 State of North Carolina No. 235 sum of ten pounds for every hundred acres hereby granted paid in to our treasury by Francis Floyd. tract of land containing 100 acres lying & being in our County of Rowan on both sides of four mile branch beginning at a small cherry John Sheppard corner on James Briggs line thence with said Sheppards line west 22 chains & 50 links to a sasafras thence south 45 chs to a post oak thence east 22 chs & 50 links to a pine James Briggs corner thence with his line north to the beginning....
This tract was not mentioned in Francis Floyd's will, so it became the shared property of all the heirs. The other heirs deeded their interest to John Floyd in 1820. It was later sold by John Floyd to Lewis Snider in 1828. Records below.
Rowan Co DB 14 p 629, 630 7 Nov 1794 State of N Carolina No. 2310 sum of fifty shilling for every hundred acres hereby ganted paid in to our treasury by Francis Floyd.... tract of land containing 150 acres Rowan Co on the waters of Flat Swamp beginning at a pine James Briggs corner thence south 30 chs to a black oak thence west 50 chs to a pine thence north 30 chs to a post oak thence east 50 chs part along James Briggs and to the beginning ...
The above tract is the 150 acres left jointly to William Briggs and William Thompson by the will of Francis Floyd 1816. They sold it to John Bean in 1822.
Rowan DB 14 p 540, 541 1 April 1796 James Briggs of Rowan to Francis Floyd of Rowan. Sum of 10 pounds. land lying in Rowan County beginning at a maple Peter Summys corner on the bank of Flat Swamp thence North 27 degrees west 15 chs & 50 links to a pine on the orignal line thence west 10 chs to a white oak thence south 55 chs to a pine thence east 36 chs to a post oak thence north 7 chs & 50 links to a heep of stones thence north 39 degrees west 29 chs to a Spanish oak on the bank of Flat Swamp thence up the same as it meanders to the beginning containing 120 acres..
Signed James Briggs (seal)
witness W Moore
August Session 1796 proved in open court by William Moore
The above tract was not mentioned in the will and it too became property shared by all the heirs. It was sold to Wm A Gallimore by the heirs of Francis Floyd 7 Jan 1820. (Rowan DB 25, p 863,864 )
Rowan Co DB 17 p 146, 147 6 September 1796 John Conger of Rowan Co to Francis Floyd of Rowan Co. sum of 125 pounds. land in Rowan Co on the west side of Abbits Creek joning to lands of Benjamin Owen, Ralph Owen and Alexander Frohock bounded by said lines beginning at a hicory on the west side of Abbots Creek Benjamin Owens corner runing west with his line 5 chs to a stake John Congers corner thence south 52 chs to a post oak his other corner on Frohocks line thence east 55 chs to an ash to Jonathan Congers Corner deceased by estimation 150 acres of land if to be found on the west side of Abots otherwise to advance it to said John Congers original deed following the meanders of the said Abbots Creek for complement on sixth part of a fish trap the said Francis Flo have til the trap fails and the the said Floyd is to have the one half for ever.
Signed John Conger (seal)
Witness O Strange, William Grist
February Session 1800 proved in open court by O Strange.
This could be the 150 acres that Francis Floyd left to wife Susanna in his will, referred to as "land where I live now".
Rowan Co DB 19 p 80 23 May 1804 Daniel Biles as attorney-in-fact for Isaac Conger of Davidson Co, TN to Reuben Holmes of Rowan for L310 361 acres on E side of Abbotts Creek adjoining Christian Kenny, Cabin Run, and Floyd. It was part of a 428 acre grant to Jonathan Conger dec'd (10:251)
Wit W Moore, Richd Leach
Acknowledged by Daniel Biles Nov Ct 1804
This is the Reuben Holmes who was the bonsman for the marriage of Mary Floyd and Jonathan Elston.
Davidson Co DB 3 p 397
7th day of January 1820 ... the heirs and executors of Francis Floyd decd of the state of North Carolina and the County of Rowan of the one part and John Floyd.... the sd heirs of Francis Floyd decd for and in consideration of the sum of one hundred & fifty dollars .... piece and parcel of land lying in the County of Rowan and State of North Carolina on boh sides of the Fore mile Branch. Beginning at a small hickory Samuel Peacocks corner on James Briggs former line thence said Peacocks line west twenty two chs & fifty links to a sassafras, thence South forty five chains to a post oak thence East twenty two chs and fifty links to a pine James Briggs former corner, thence with his line North to the beginning containing one hundred acres of land ...
signed Whitlock (X)Bean Frederick (X) Cornup Willm (X) Thomson Willm (/) Briggs
witnesses Jno. Peacock John Briggs
March Session 1828 Proven in open court by John Peacock
Rowan Co DB 25 p 863, 864
Jan 7, 1820 Francis Floyd heirs of the County of Rowan and Wm A Gallimore. $204.20 Beginning at a maple Peter Summy's corner on the bank of Flat Swamp thence north 27 degrees West 15 chains 50 links to a pine on the original line thence West 10 chains to a white oak thence South 55 chains to a pine, thence East 36 chains to a post oak thence 7 chains and 50 links to a heap of stones thence North 39 degrees West 29 chains to a Spanish oak on the bank of Flat Swamp thence up the same with its meanders to the beginning containing 120 acres...
Signed William X Tomson, Lockey X Been, Fenderick X Carnun, John + Floyd, Willm X Briggs
Wit Jno Peacock, John Briggs
May Session 1820 proved in open Court by the Oath of John Peacock
These two tracts were not mentioned in the will. Although one mentions the adjoining land of Samuel Peacock, it could not be the 100 acres that was left to John Floyd that also adjoined Samuel Peacock. There would have been no need for the other Floyd heirs to sign since John alone had inherited that land. However, Whitlock Bean did sign as one of the heirs, which proves he had married a Floyd daughter shortly after Francis wrote his will, probably Nancy since all the other daughters can be accounted for and none of their husbands seems to have died. The only husband who did not sign this deed was Jonathan Elston. He moved to TN, probably Smith Co where William Elston made his will dated 31 Aug 1817, proved May 1818, naming, among others, son Jonathan. There is a record for Jonathan Elston who served during the War of 1812 in 2 Regiment, Mounted (Higgins'), Tennessee Volunteers. A Jonathan Elston age 26-44 with wife the same age and numerous children appeared on the 1820 census in Jefferson Co, KY. Whitlock Bean's records do not reveal the name of his wife until the 1850 census when his wife was Elizabeth, but she couldn't have been Elizabeth Floyd. Elizabeth Floyd Briggs and husband William Briggs were still alive and listed on the 1850 Brown Co, IL census. Besides, William Briggs signed the 1820 deed along with Whitlock Bean. So it appears that Whitlock Bean must have married Nancy Floyd some time between 1816 and 1820 and Nancy had died by 1850.
Davidson Co DB 1 p 82
26 Feb 1822 Susannah Floyd wife of Francis Floyd dec'd of Rowan Co to Lenard Smith of Rowan Co. Sum of $100 cash. Land on the waters of Abbots Creek... begining at a hicory on the west side of Abbots Creek runing thence across sd Creek east to the east bank of said Creek running thence down the creek with its meanders of the said creek to where the old original line of Francis Floyd dec'd line crosses the same thence west with the same 55 chs to a post oak thence No. 52 chs to a stake thence 5 chs to the begining containing 102 acres...
Signed Susannah (X) Floyd (seal)
Wit Jacob Smith, George Smith
July Session 1823 Proven in open court by Jacob and George Smith.
This must have been a part of the 150 acre home tract that Francis Floyd left to wife Susanna. I have not found a later record for the remaining 48 acres.
This is an interesting deed for another reason. The land was on both sides of Abbott's Creek. Leonard Smith is known to have built a bridge across the creek. Was the bridge on this land or other land that Smith owned in the same area? Present Hwy 8 crosses Abbotts Creek in almost the same place as shown on earlier maps.
Davidson Co NC Minutes of the Court of Pleas and Quarter Sessions, Vol 1, p 124:
March 25, 1826 Ordered that George Smith act as overseer of the road from Leonard Smith's bridge on Abbotts Creek to Flat Swamp and that the following hands work on said road, to wit: Jonathan, Jacob, Peter, & Abraham Cross, Walter Nothern, George Nothern, John Cameron, Jun., Isham Wallace, Wm. Harris, Martin Kinney, Reuben Nothern, James Owen, George Gregson, Jacob Gregson, Wm. Newsom, Samuel Shipton, Henry Holliway, Dan'l Hooks, George Smith, George Cross, Abraham Cross, Jacob Cross, Leonard Cross, George Cross (D. son), David Cross (s of D.) & John Cross.
John Floyd might have been considered too old for this kind of work, but I was surprised that Basil Floyd wasn't included. This is a fantastic record as it gives us an idea of who lived along this road at this time.
Davidson Co DB 3, p 71
11 Oct 1822 William Briggs and William Thompson both of Rowan to John Bean of Rowan. $25. On the waters of Flat Swamp beginning at a pine James Briggs corner thence South 30 chains to a black oak thence west 50 chains to a pine thence north 30 chains to a post oak thence east 50 chains part along James Briggs line to the beginning containing 150 acres.
signed William X Briggs, William X Thompson
wit R Harriss, Simeon Morris
June Session 1826 proven in open court by Ransom Harris a subscribing witness
The above deed is for the land that was left jointly to William Briggs and William Thompson by the will of Francis Floyd.
Davidson Co DB 3 p 377
fifth day of January 1828 .... John Floyd of the County of Davidson .... and Lewis Snider Jur. of the County and State aforesaid ... for and in consideration of the sum of two hundred and twenty one dollars ... tract piece or parcel of land situate lying and being in the County of Davidson on the Four Mile Branch. Beginning at a hickory the said Sniders corner running thence West twenty two chains & fifty links to a sassafras, thence South forty five chains to a post oak thence East twenty two chains & fifty links to a pine Wm A Gallamores corner thence North to the beginning containing one hundred acres ....
signed John (N) Floyd
witnesses Richard Briggs William (I) Briggs
The above is the same tract that the other heirs of Francis Floyd deeded to John Floyd in 1820. The deed was not proven until March 1828. It was actually proven after John Floyd sold the same tract to Lewis Snider. Notice that it mentions William A Gallamore's corner. This may have adjoined the land the heirs sold to Gallimore in 1820.
John Floyd was alive and well and still living in Davidson Co at least until 1828. He was simply missed on the 1810 and 1820 censuses. A John Floyd of his age appears on the 1830 census but not in the Flat Swamp area. I believe he is an entirely different John Floyd.
Although I don't have the deed books and pages, I have found mention of Francis Floyd's land on webpages about other families.
William Bean witnessed a deed conveying 100 acres on Flat Swamp in Rowan County, North Carolina, from Jacob Watson to Jacob Rudolph on 24 Oct 1801. The land adjoined that of Francis Floyd. It being part of a 992 acre State grant to William Moore, surveyor of Rowan County, recorded in Deed Book 13:328. The deed was proved at the February session of Court in 1802.
William Bean witnessed a deed conveying 18 acres in Rowan County, North Carolina, from Thomas Briggs to James Ballard on 15 Aug 1797. The land adjoined that of Francis Floyd, Simon Watson and Stephen Cameron. The deed was proved at the May session of Court in 1802.
Deed of 30 Oct 1801, John Conger to Leonard Smith, 192 3/4 a on Abbott's Creek adjacent to Jonathan Conger Sr, Leonard Smith, Benjamin Owens & Francis Floyd. Part of a grant to him of 6 May 1778. Judith Conger made her mark also.
1802 Feb 15 Rowan NC, James Riley, planter to Samuel Peacock, planter 150 lbs. 150 ac. on both sides of Four Mile Branch, adj. Francis Floyd and James Briggs. It was a patent to this grantor on 28 Nov 1792, wit. William Grist, William Gallimore, proved Grist.
1805 Jul 10 Rowan NC, James Bullard to Thomas Briggs for 10 lbs, 18 ac. adj. Simon Watson, Francis Floyd, wit. Richard Briggs, William Grist, William Galimore. proved by Richard Briggs.
The Davidson Co deeds (unfortunately not the Rowan Co deeds) can be viewed online by going to the Davidson Co Register of Deeds webpage and entering the deed book and page. The older deeds have not been indexed for online use, so you have to have the deed book and page to bring them up. Only the more recent deeds can be searched by surnames.
Susannah Floyd lived until 1841.
Davidson Co Court of Pleas and Quarter Sessions vol III p 121
2nd Mon in Aug 1841
Henry Owen is appointed administrator of Susannah Floyd. He entered into bond in the sum of $100 with David Smith his security which was approved & he qulified & obtained letters.
I have found nothing more about the administration of her estate in the Davidson Co records. Perhaps records can be found at NC Archives.
Henry Owen was from the Flat Swamp area. His wife was Lorena "Rainey" Parker. He was born about 1816, the son of Benjamin Owen and Christina Smith and the brother of Abraham Owen who was the bondsman for the marriage of Mimeth Floyd and William Thompson. Benjamin Owen's land adjoined the land that Francis Floyd purchased from John Conger in 1796. Although Henry Owen lived near the Floyds, I have found no obvious connection and no sign of Susannah in an Owen marriage record or Owen will.
Susannah never appeared on a census in her own name after Francis Floyd's death and I found no sign of her on John Floyd's 1800 census or Whitlock Bean's censuses. Francis Floyd's other children either died or moved away before 1841, so she could not have been living with them when she died. Possibly Susanna was previously married and lived with a child by that marriage. If she was born in the 1750's, she lived to be quite old. Unfortunately we have no record that reveals when Francis married her, so we don't know if any of his censuses reflect her age or not and we can't be certain which of the Floyd children, if any, are hers. For this reason I am recording the mother of Francis Floyd's children as "unknown".
Other interesting connections:
Mary Floyd was Jonathan Elston's third wife. His second wife was Mary Wiatt, sister to Celia Wiatt who married William Bean, the executor or Francis Floyd's estate. Jonathan Elston's sister Margaret Elston married Jonathan Conger Jr whose father's land is mentioned above. Jonathan Elston's brother Jesse Elston married Mary Conger.
The Owens, Kinneys, and Gallimores that appear in these early land records continued to live in the Flat Swamp area for many years and married into the Floyd family.
There is one more clue I've been able to find but don't yet have the record. This comes from a search for Francis Floyd at the NC Archives webpage.
File No. 311 Benjamin McCulloch, assignee of Francis Floyd (Military Warrant No. 2020)
Years 1785, 1793
Call number S108.388 Location 1239-1243 MARS ID 12.14.19.310 (folder) 2 items
personal names: William Faircloth, Francis Floyd, Joseph Floyd, Benjamin McCulloch
Cumberland River, TN
warrant originally granted to heirs of Francis Floyd
640 acres grant no. 2012 issued May 20, 1793
entered Aug 16, 1785 Book 81 p 127
on the South side Cumberland River
Since this is a military warrant, I'm assuming it relates to Revolutionary War service. This Francis Floyd was dec'd by 1793 so he could not be our Francis Floyd. Maybe his father? I don't know how this Joseph Floyd relates, but I have found the name Joseph Floyd in the records for another line of Floyds in Davidson Co. If anyone goes to Archives, please get this record. If we're lucky, it might open up a whole new field of research. The info given here does not even associate this Francis Floyd with any specific county or region in NC.
I am seeing claims all over the internet that Francis Floyd was son of this or that, but so far every claim I've seen just won't work with the records and no one is citing any records to prove their claim. We know our Francis Floyd was in VA when his daughter Elizabeth was born about 1776 and in Rowan Co in 1784.
Let's get the records out there and work with them.
Notify Administrator about this message?
Followups:No followups yet |
| http://genforum.genealogy.com/floyd/messages/5079.html | ||
 |
Link to GenForum Add Forum |
|